Number 1 today in 1995: Take That – Back For Good

The last Number 1 with Robbie as part of the group topped the Official Singles Chart 25 years ago this week. See what else was in the Top 100 that week.

“I guess, now it’s time… for me to give up. I feel it’s time.”

Nobody, perhaps even the members of Take That, knew just how prescient that opening line would be. Within a year of releasing Back For Good, Take That lost a member and announced they’d be splitting up - on Valentine’s Day of all days.

The group's third album Nobody Else was a turning point for the band, even before the internal struggles that would eventually break them up. Their sound took a more mature direction and they all sported a new look. All of a sudden, Howard had dread locks and Robbie took some scissors to his dark, floppy barnet. Turning into a manband before our very eyes – our boys were all grown up.

Back For Good sounded like it was going to be the start of an exciting new stage in the band’s career. It was a hit in the USA, and scored them their sixth UK Number 1 on the Official Chart.

Back For Good shifted 248,000 copies in its first week and knocked Outhere Brothers’ saucy novelty hit Don’t Stop (Wiggle Wiggle) off the top, and the two tracks – which couldn’t really be more different if they tried – occupied the Number 1 and Number 2 spot together for a whole month. Finally, someone had to to break up the party, and that job fell to Oasis, who landed their first chart-topper with Some Might Say in April 1995.

It was to be Take That’s last proper single with Robbie Williams. While there was another single released featuring his vocals – the unforgettable Never Forget – Robbie had already departed.

Take That's Back For Good in numbers

CD single and download sales: 1.1 million

Audio streams: 29 million (since 2014)

Video streams: 2 million (since 2018)

Back For Good ranks as Take That's second biggest single overall, behind 2007's Rule The World. See where all of Take That's singles and albums have charted here.

Elsewhere on the Official Singles Chart that week, Bobby Brown scored his highest-charting single in the UK with Two Can Play That Game at Number 3. It was a re-work of a song had only reached Number 52 in its original form in 1994. Meanwhile, dance group Strike landed their first and only UK Top 10 with U Sure Do at Number 4. Fun fact: The "you sure make me feel like loving you" part of the chorus is taken from Serious, a Number 8 hit for Donna Allen in 1987.

There were new entries for (the now unfortunately-named) Italian band Corona with Baby Baby (7), British dance act Grace with Not Over Yet (8), and Hypnotised by Scottish band Simple Minds at 18.